How do you guys take action shots?

[topazpaintball]

How do you guys take action shots from on the field? There's a stupid netting at my field, so I can't take from the sidelines. A lense full of paint isn't very motivating :tard:

[68magOwner]

just get on the field, if your really worried, wrap a towel or something around your camera, although, i have been shot in multiple types of cameras, multiple times, and it has never done any more than sutomatically shutting the camera off (assuming its a digi cam).

[tippmannsniper-]

if u have the right lens, like a telephoto lensor something, u could focus right through the netting as if it werent there

or u could just get on the feild


OR u could buy an underwater cover for your camera and use that too protect ur camera

[eric_503]

http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/eric_503/

theres some i took theres like long pieces of wood along the side leaving a space to walk up and down and behind the dead box etc

[-Tab]

http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/eric_503/

theres some i took theres like long pieces of wood along the side leaving a space to walk up and down and behind the dead box etc


I like all the holes in the bunkers....especially seeing kids look out of them.

And the guy with the red Ego seems to have some excess feedneck goin' on.


Oh, nice pics by the way.

[eric_503]

ya on this one (http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/eric_503/?action=view&current=June242006013.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch9) the hopper had fallen out and he had just put it in i dont know what the halo has such a long feedneck tho

[ntn4502]

http://www.breakoutphotos.com/paintball/

thats our team, our guy does a pretty damn good job

[peewee]

I use a police riot shield.

[-Tab]

I use a police riot shield.

I use my teeth.

[RoadDawg]

I like all the holes in the bunkers....especially seeing kids look out of them.

And the guy with the red Ego seems to have some excess feedneck goin' on.


Oh, nice pics by the way.

When I know people can look through the holes, I do what I can to fit a ball in those spots as well. :) I remember one game I made No_Skillz wonder why he was getting sprayed when he was sitting square in the middle of a huge bunker. Plus you never know when that one "lucky" shot goes through and breaks. (assuming your opponents are honest)

[Warwitch]

I take action photos in my shower! Unfortunately for you posting them is a bannable offense :D

[-Tab]

When I know people can look through the holes, I do what I can to fit a ball in those spots as well. :) I remember one game I made No_Skillz wonder why he was getting sprayed when he was sitting square in the middle of a huge bunker. Plus you never know when that one "lucky" shot goes through and breaks. (assuming your opponents are honest)


We actually used to have a couple bunkers with holes in them, too. I could see some kid lookin' through one with his gun out the side of his bunker shooting at whatever.
I shot at that hole and didn't stop until I saw that kid stand up and walk off. He was unbelievably mad. It totally made my day.

[Doc Nickel]

There's two ways to get good shots (http://docsmachine.smugmug.com/). The right way, and all the other ways. :D

Me, I have a safety-orange mesh vest, a cheap thing from the OSHA aisle at the local industrial hardware store. Then, gloves, goggles (natch!) a hat or headwrap, and enough smarts to (usually) stay the hell out of the way.

It doesn't always work:

http://docsmachine.smugmug.com/photos/77285260-M.jpg

For you guys concerned with letting the camera get hit, that's about $6,400 retail in high-end digital up there. Yes, I am nuts, but then again, I'm not paid to be normal.

In a tournament (http://docsmachine.smugmug.com/gallery/1597795), okay it with the referees and/or promoter(s), and stick to the sidelines. I have a wide/telephoto zoom so I can shoot right at my feet or all the way across the field. Position yourself so you can see the "hot" spots of the field, and move when the situation demands. If you're not getting paid for the shoot (IE, you're not shooting for a magazine, etc.) then if/when players start strafing your way, move! Or at least turn your back. :D

In the Woods (http://docsmachine.smugmug.com/gallery/1625262) you have more freedom to move, you're not stuck to the sidelines. But, that also means the players can sneak up behind you and you can suddenly find yourself in the crossfire.

I got shot in the camera more shooting the second group than I did in the first. :)

I have industrial-stength water-resistant gear, but if you're concerned for your camera, like they said above, wrap it with towels, or just drape a towel over it. Even a couple plastic bags and a bit of black electrical tape will help against splatter.

But you're not gonna get good shots through the netting. Trust me on this one.

Doc.

[FiXeL]

Yup, that's about the best way to do it. Last weekend i played some airball and made pictures (http://www.teamvendetta.nl/index.php?option=com_joomlaboard&Itemid=28&func=view&id=295&catid=3) between games. At first i made a series behind the netting, but these aren't as good as the inside shots. You can't move around the field, but staying on one side does give you pretty nice shots.
For woodsball i use a safety jacket like doc uses, and only expose my camera when i take the shot. Sometimes you get in the crossfire, then i cover the camera with my hand and walk away to a safer position. Never run, because even when wearing a fluor-yellow jacket people will shoot at you!

I use a Nikon Coolpix 3.2 Mpixel camera, not that expencive and makes pretty decent pictures. Just make sure you set it to sports, for short exposure. That way you don't get blurred action pics, but the images are a bit darker and of less quality.

[DeVioSiTY]

While it's certainly not designed to be the top of line professional camera, I have been happy with my pentax Optio WPi. It was the only camera I found that had decent quality and in a waterproof and shockproof case. so you can get it wet, drop it in the mud, spill it out of your pocket onto the pavement or better yet shoot it with paintballs.

Pentax Optio WP (http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/product_details/digital_camera--OptioWP/reqID--6442215/subsection--optio)

I personally sprung for the 6MP version (good enough for 11x17s). And you don't have to cry :cry: if your camera gets hit because you can either submerge it in water to wash it off or just 'wipe the hit and keep shooting' pictures. :rolleyes:

Just make sure you wipe off the lens after you submerge it in water as the water still on the lens will make your pictures distorted.

examples (sorry pictures are only slightly compressed and are large in size):

in the water shot (http://www.ferts.net/images/shishi/IMGP1409.JPG)
water on the lens after above shot (http://www.ferts.net/images/shishi/IMGP1410.JPG)
picture after water wiped off (http://www.ferts.net/images/shishi/IMGP1422.JPG)

[Warwitch]

'wipe the hit and keep shooting'

and no worries about "playing on!!"

[topazpaintball]

Hey doc, how did you get that lense clean? Or did you have a filter over it? I'd imagine it'd be much easier to clean if it had a filter. Sweet pics by the way. Nice camera too. I use a Rebel XT because it's cheap :p

[Warwitch]

Absolutely MUST use a filter!! I really like to shoot with a polarizing filter most of the time but they are a little more than the cheapy UV's that have saved my Nikkor more than once! Underwater bags work great keeping the sludge out of the body but if you get one make sure it has the screw on filter to shoot through (those vinyl bags are way too thick to get clear pics out of). If you are handy and patient you can make a homemade version pretty cheap.

1. Take your filter and a giant ziploc bag (the ones with the zipper work great)
2. center the filter on the flat surface of your ziploc bag.
3. Trace an outline on the bag with a sharpie (fine point)
4. Put a cardboard "cutting board" inside the ziploc so you dont cut holes in both sides.
5. Using an exacto knife, carefully cut out the circle.
6. Align the filter with the hole you cut.
7. Secure the filter to the ziploc with silicone caulk. This step is the most crucial as you dont
want to get any sisicone on the filter glass or threads.


Ive done this a few times and they work great but they dont last as long as the storebought versions. (also handy for those shower action shots I spoke of earlier too!) I try to do at least two at a time so Im never without one in the field. Hope this helps.

[topazpaintball]

Slightly off topic, but since we are talking about cameras:

I'm considering switching the Rebel for an Evolt E500. Does anyone have experience with the E500? Would you recommend it?